Railway-switch.



No. 881,799. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.

P. n. HIBNEIL RAILWAY SWITCH. AlfPLICATIONIII-ED MAY 31, 1 907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.-

I Arm/m5 No. 881,799. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.v

P. 1). HiBNER..

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

Q in). 881,799.

PHILIP D. HIBNER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Specification or Letters Patent.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Patented March 10, 1.908.

Application filed. May 31, 1907. Serial No. 376,580.

To all whom it may concern. Be it Known that I, PHILIP D. HIBNER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Seat- :iu Improvements in Railway'Switches, of

tle, in the county ofKi'ng and State of VVash- 1n ton, have invented certain new and usewhich the following is a specification, refer- I I once being had therein to the accompanying draw-mgs.

} 4'5 --Fig. ,6 with said devices illustrated in en- My invention relates to mechanism for .0 crating railway switches of that type disc osed in United States Patent No. 842,460, issued to me January 29, 1907.

The object of this invention is the provi" sion of manually operated devices, supple mentary to those described in the aforesaid patent, for actuating a switch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of signal devices to cooperate with and be actuated by the switch movements when the same is efiected by said manually o era-ted means or by devices carried upon t e car.

' 'A still further ob'ect of the invention is to provide devices for'locking the switch in both its open and closed positions. The invention consists in the novel construction and adaptation of parts, and the combinations thereof, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway-track and associated parts constructed in accordance with this invention; -F1g. 2, a sldeelevation of portions of the saniewith devices carried by a locomotive or car for operating the switch; Fig. 3, is a cross sectional view enlarged taken through 3-3'-of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, is a vertical cross sectional view enlarged of the signal a paratus; .larged taken through the switch stand. Fig.

and :Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectiona view en- '6 is .a plan view en arged of a car truck provided with my improved switch operating devices; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view ofiFig. 6; and Fig. 8 is anend view of gaged position with respect to certain of the swltch operating parts which are also'shown.

The reference numerals 10 and 11, respectively .designate the fixed rails of the .main and branch lines of a railway track, and 10 and 11 the corresponding movable rail or switch points, which are connected by tie-rods 24, as usual. I

In proximity to one of the rails 10, and at some distance from the switch, is a rail 12 adapted to be depressed by the passing thereoveroi' the flanges of the car wheels upon that side of the track and thereby effecting the elevation of a vertically movable in 13 through intervening levers 14 and 15.

his pin is carried by a block 16 slidably fitted in a frame 17 which is fixedly in turn secured to the track-ties or other suitable supports. A lever 18 is connected at one end to the block 16 and connected at the other end by rods 19 with bell-cranks 20 and the latter respectively connected by rods 21 with bell-cranks 22 which in turn are similarly connected with a lever 23, and the latter connected, as by a pin 23, with one of the tie-rods24. The lever 23 is pivoted at 23 to one of the rail joints, as shown in Fig. 1.

The aforesaid parts are substantially like the corresponding parts which are more fully described and illustrated in the above mentioned patent.

According to the present invention I provide adjacent to the switch and in proximity to one of the rails 10 of said main-line, a supplementary rail 25 which is capable of being depressed and thus maintained by the fianges of the car-wheels while they are traveling over the same. The oilice of this rail is to engage and tiltupwardly the notched arm of a lever 26, see Fi s. 1 and 3, and engage the same with the Tever '23 in either of the notches 26 which are spaced apart in the lever 26 to accommodate the above named lever 23 in the positions it-assumes when the switch is respectively in its open or closed )osition, and thus prevent such conditions. eing altered during the passage of a car or train over the switch. W'hen the rear Wheel of a train has, however, moved beyond the rail 25 the latter is released and-automatically restored to its normal raised position by the action of an overbalancing weight 26, and thus disengaged from the lever 23.

Operatively connected with the lever 18 by a rod 27 is an arm 28 connected toan upright s indle 28 journaled in a suitable su port w ich is positioned at one side of t e track; A yoke 29 is fixedly mounted upon the spindle 28 and is connectedfrom its opposite arms by cables, or rods, 30 and 31, respectively, with the manually actuated devices for operating the switch, to be presently formed of a chambered base 32 from'which extend upwardly the tubular members 32 surmounted by ahead 32 carrying a casing '33 for the reception of a lantern 34, or its equivalent, which is open at its bottom and provided with oppositely disposed sight apertures in its side walls. The lantern is attached at its bail with a hoisting line 35 which passes over a sheave 35" and thence downwardly to within easy reach of an attendant, for securing the lantern in its raised position within said casing. Upon said head 32- are standards in which is iournaled a shaft 37 having upon each end a pair of spectacle glasses 38, of the conventional colors, as red or green, employed in railway signaling and disposed at right angles to each other and also upon one side of the glasses is arranged a semaphore blade 39. These glasses 38-38 are arranged to be respectively brought opposite the aforesaid sight apertures by the movement of the lever 18 which controls the switch and corresponding to the condition of the letter, that is to say to bring the semaphore blade or either pair ofthe differently colored glasses into position to indicate the changed conditions of the switch according to the ordinary or predetermined code of signals employed. Such changes are effected by the rods 31 operating vibratory bell-cranks 40 upon. a shaft 40 within the tower base 32, and through the medium of cables 41 having their ends connected with the bell-cranks 40 and passing about and stapled'or otherwise secured in l e peripheral groove of a wheel 42 which is rig. ly mounted upon the shaft 37 carrying the above described signal contriva'nces.

To reliably bring the proper pair of said glasses in register with the sight apertures provide detents 43 fixedly secured or formed upon the wheel 42 and arranged to engage within a notched spring catch 44 upon the head 32 when the glasses are in such register. The before mentioned manually operated devices for throwing the switch consists of a stand 45, see Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in which is rotatably seated a vertical post -16 having at its upper end, signal devices, such as a target 47 and a lamp 48, while at its lower end is a yoke 49 which is operatively coupled by the rods 30 with the aforesaid yoke 29, and whereby the actions of the switch and of the signal operating mechanism is transposed to eflect the partial rotation in the post, or vice Versa.

Intermediate the length of the post 4-6 is an annular collar 46 provided in its periphery with a notch 4 adaited to be engaged by the short arm 50 of it ever 50 when the latter is brought into a corresponding radial line therewith and tilted to cause said arm to enter. The lever is fulcrumed by a pin 51 to cars 52 of a ring 52 loosely'fitted abo the collar 46 Whereat it is retained by a set collar 53 upon the post.

l The lever 50 is ordinarily disengaged from the-post leaving the latter free to turn with the switch movements but ail'ording upon occasion, conveniently connected means for controlling the switch when it is'desirablc tor it to be operated by other than the devices provided therefor upon a car, as, for example, when a car unprovided with shifting mechanism, or in station yards where trains are being made up, and'wherc it is oftentimes inexpedient to move the locomotive carrying such shitting mcchanisn'i into posi-- tion to etlcct the movements of the switch. more especially where the shifting pin is located at a considerable distance from the switch. Locking devices, such as a hasp .3 1 and a padlock 55, are provided lor securing; the lever 50 in its disengaged iosition in order to safeguard the switch ro n being: tampered with by irresponsible or malicious people.

For actuating the switch from a moving: car is provided a blade carried by and under the car for encountering the pin 13 when, as before explained, the same is forced up by the car depressing the rail 12. ln Fig. 2, such controlling devices are illustrated as adapted to railway train service and are shown in con nection with a locomotive, indicated in broken lines, while in Figs. 6, 7 and S. co responding devices are shown as applied to cartruck. Referring to these last men-- tioned views, 57 represents the blade of spring. metal and is secured at one end to a terminally disposed pendentlug 58 of a horizontal bar 58 which is provided ccntrall ot its length with an. upright spindle 5S) and studs 60 and (30 protruding,longitiulinaliy from its respective ends. Said indlc 59 in journaled in a vertically movab c standard 6i and also in a bearing (32 of the frame til which carries the standard. Upon the s iindle 59 is a fixed collar 63 and between which and the bearing 62 is positioned a helical spring 64 tending to maintain the spindle and standard in their uppermost positions, and whereupon the blade 57 will be held at such a height as to enable it to pass over the pin 15'; without engagin the same. The standard 59 is provided a so with laterally ext-ending); lugs 61 which are enga ed from above by one of the arms 650i be ll-cr'anks which are fulcrumed in hangers 66 provided 11 11in tho car. The other arms of these bell-cranks are operatively connected by a chain or cable 67 with an arm 68 of a vibratory shaft (it) which is provided with a handle bar. 70 and through the medium of which the downward movement of the blade 57 is-eiiected against the action of the spring 64 and a supplementary spring 71 which serves to take up any lost motion and likewise restore said handhbar to its inoperative position.

' Rigid upon the spindle 5.) is a sprocket whee 73 for a chain 73 which is (nu-re c l a sprocket wheel 74 secured to an upright spindle 75 journaled in framework 76 and other notches 78. to the opposite side and v respectively present the blade 57 at efficient angles, of incidence with-the travel of the pin 13 to effectually swerve. the latter when the blade is de ressed, as aforesaid, for engaging the pin. o secure the blade in such positions I provide below the car-body two frames 80 formed with suitabl arranged notches 81 for the reception of t e aforesaid i studs 60 or'60 as the case may be.

The 0 eration of the invention may be explaine as follows: When the wheel-flanges of a car in its travel toward the switch, encounters the rail 12 it de resses the same to effect theelevation o the pin- 13, as

shown in Fig.- 8, and thereby affording means through which the switch may be opened or closed-to properly direct the on moving car or train. Assuming that the switch has to be altered as will be indicated to the operator upon the car, by the hereinb fore explained signal devices, sufiiciently i advanceof the arrival-of the train at the pm to allow the operator, manipulating through the arm 77 and the connecting mechanism, to swing the blade 57 into proper position for engaging the pin in such manner as 'to swerve the latter for accom lishing the desired movement of the switc -point.

If the car is traveling in the direction de-e noted by the arrow in Figs. 6 and 7, then the latch lever 79 should be brought into register with one or the other of the notches 78 which are arranged to have the bladesecuring lug 60 of the bar 58 in advance so that when the blade is thrust down by oper-.

ating the controlling lever 70 into engageable osition withsaid pin '13, the stud 60 will have entered the roper one of the notches 81 and thus rigir ly hold the bar-against horizontal oscillation, while the resiliency of the blade, will accommodate itself to effect the movement of the pin. and coincidentally the'switch-point. Should the car,

' however, be mov ng in the opposite direction,

the bar 58"1s swung endfor end by manipuilating'the arm 77 to bring said latch lever into register with one orthe other of the notches 78 When the switch is-properly set, the operating devices upon the car would obviously be left undisturbed.

It is to be noted that the elevation of the pin 13, through which the switch is in- ,fiu'enced, is mechanically brought into operative position by themecl'ianism on the car,

and so likewise is the locking lever caused to operate and be retained in such operative condition until the car or train has passed beyond the end of the controlling rail 25 for the locking devices, and human agency is required only in adjustably moving the shifting appliances provided upon the car. When the switch is-changed the semaphore signal devices are correspondingly varied through the oflices'of the cables and other mechanical elements as explained in the foregoing specification. The offices and operation of the devices for actuating the switch from the side of the track will also be understood from the preceding description.

Among the advantages of the present improvements is the provision of means for the safeguarding of a train, against'accident while passing over aswitch; the coupling of the several operating and signal members so as to act in unison; the rovision of means for operating the switc for trains unprovided with operating devices; and, generally, in the simplifying and perfecting ofthe various factors employed for the accomplishing of their several functions, and for operating them 'as nearly automatically as ossi-ble. avingdescribed my invention, what I claim is,

1. The combination with a railway-track provided with switch-points, mechanism connected with said points and including a pin whichis normally in inoperative osition, a car, meansactuated by a wheel of the car for disposing the pin in operative position, a bar swinging upon the car, means for alternately actuating said bar for efiecting the alternate movement of the switch points, and means for locking said'bar in either of its adjusted positions;

2. The combination with a railway-track provided with switch-points, mechanism connected with said points and including a pinwhich is maintained normally in inoperative osition, a car, means actuated by the whee of the car for disposing the pin in operativecondition, means for locking the switch-points in set ositions, a bar swinging upon the *car Where y the pin is alternately engaged for effecting the alternate movements of said switchoints, and means for locking said bar in eit ier of its adjusted positions.

3. The combination with a railwa -track provided with switch-points; mec anisln connected with said oints and including a pin which is normally in inoperative position, a car, and means actuated y a wheel of the car for elevating the pin into operative con dition, of mechanism upon the car whereby ism comprising a vertical spindle provided to a bar arranged for rotation, means whereby said bar is rotated, means whereby the bar is depressed into position to engage the block, and means whereby the bar is locked when depressed in. various predetermined rotary positions.

13. The combination with a railway track, a switch-point, means actuated by the wheel of a car for securing the point against accidental displacement, a block, mechanical connections between the block and said point, and means actuated by the wheel of a car for rendering the block capable of being engagedbydcvices upon the car, of said devices comprising a blade secured at one end to a bar arranged for rotation, means whereby said bar is rotated, means whereby the bar is depressed into position to engage the block, and means whereby the bar is locked when depressed in various predetermined rotary positions.

14:. The combination with a railway track including switch points, a frame connected to the road bed of said track, a block slidable in said frame, a pin carried by said block, connecting means betweensaid block and the switch points, a car movable on said track, means carried by said car for operating said pin, means operative by the wheels of said car for securing the switch points from displacement, a bar mounted to swing upon said car, and means carried by said car to operate said bar to cause the same to be alternately disposed relative to said p1ns.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP 1). HIBNER.

Witnesses PIERRE BARNES, Units. E. S. BURCH. 

